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Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States and the main writer of The Declaration of Independence. As public official, historian, philosopher, and plantation owner, he served his country for over five decades. He voiced the aspirations of a new America as no other individual of his era.


Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 at the family home in Shadwell, Goochland County, Virginia. His father Peter Jefferson was a successful planter and surveyor and his mother Jane Randolph was a member of one of Virginia's most distinguished families. At around the age of 29 Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton. He lived happily with her for ten years until her death. Their marriage produced six children, but only two survived to adulthood.



Jefferson is also known for his kindness towards slaves. Jefferson inherited slaves from both his father and father-in-law. In a typical year, he owned about 200, almost half of them under the age of sixteen. Jefferson freed two slaves in his lifetime and five in his will and chose not to pursue two others who ran away. All were members of the Hemings family; the seven he eventually freed were skilled tradesmen.

President Thomas Jefferson Timeline Important Dates, World and National Events During His Lifetime
1743	Born on April 13th in Virginia
1760	Enrolled at William and Mary College at Williamsburg at the age of 16
1762	Graduated William and Mary College
1769-1775	Elected to the House of Burgesses
1772	(Jan 1) Marries Martha Wayles Skelton
1772	Daughter Martha Jefferson is born.
1774	Daughter Jane Jefferson is born.
1775	Daughter Jane Jefferson dies.
1776	Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence
1777	An infant son dies
1778	Daughter Mary Jefferson is born.
1780	Daughter Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson is born.
1781	Daughter Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson dies.
1782	Daughter Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson is born.
1782	Martha Jefferson dies
1785	Daughter Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson dies.
1785	Appointed as minister to France
1789	Became Secretary of State
1796	Elected Vice-President of the United States
1801	Elected President if the United States
1801	Tripoli declared war on America
1802	West Point Military Academy is established
1803	John Dalton shared atomic theory of matter
1803	Ohio became a state
1803	The U.S. purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for $15,000,000
1804	The 12th Amendment to the constitution is adopted which states the President and Vice President will be elected separately
1804	Napoleon appointed himself as the French Emperor
1804	John Pickering became the first federal judge to be impeached
1804	June 4th Tripoli and America signed a peace treaty
1804	The steam locomotive is invented by Richard Trevithick
1805	Lewis and Clark reached the pacific coast
1807	Arron Burr,Jefferson's Vice President, was tried and acquitted for treason
1808	Congress prohibited the importation of African slaves to the United States
1809	U.S. population is 7,040,000
1819	Founded the University of Virginia
1826	Died July 4th at his home Monticello in Virginia

Jefferson is also know for the Louisiana Purchase shown on the map below:




















For more on Thomas Jefferson visit: Thomas Jefferson Biography, Liberty Kids Thomas Jefferson Link, Video